Theater
Inspired by French author Marcel Ayme’s Le Passe-Muraille, O Theater’s (O劇團) Walker Through Walls (穿牆人—華麗的逃殺) explores the dark side of humanity through a game of survival. The cast includes theater veteran Winnie Chang (張詩盈).
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
Photo courtesy of Ping-Fong Acting Troupe
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Underworld Code (王國密碼), the newest production by Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班), begins with an unsolved murder 46 years ago that leads to a political scandal that rocks today’s government.
Photo courtesy of TSO
■ National Theater, Taipei City
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Golden Bough Theatre (金枝演社劇團) presents Never Miss Happy Love (可愛冤仇人之愛情不NG), a romantic comedy that explores the budding relationship between a poor hostess and a young street vendor.
■ Outdoor plaza at Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號)
■ Tomorrow at 6pm
■ Free admission
Scripted and first directed by Chang Chia-jung (張嘉容) when she was an artist in residency in Paris last year, La Belle Dormeuse (美麗沉睡者) deals with the themes of love, social expectations and self-fulfillment.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Fruit Wine Building (果酒禮堂), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A.M. 00:00 in Taipei (台北上午零時) is the third installment of Wu Nien-jen’s (吳念真) acclaimed Human Condition (人間條件) series. It tells the story of three young men who leave their homes in the south of Taiwan to try their luck in the big smoke.
■ Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ NT$600 to NT$5,000, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.tickets.com.tw
Classical music
Voces Intimae (情絃私語) is a concert being staged as part of the National Symphony Orchestra’s (國家交響樂團) Chamber Music Series (NSO樂季沙龍音樂會). The concert features Li I-chin (李宜錦) and Teng Hao-tun (鄧皓敦) on violin, Grace Huang (黃瑞儀) on viola and Lien Yi-shien (連亦先) on cello. The program includes Bartok’s String Quartet No. 6, Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 95 “Serioso” and Sibelius’ Sting Quartet “Voces Intimae.”
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$350, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Fierce Romanticism (生猛俄羅斯) presents the Taipei Symphony Orchestra and violin virtuoso Makoto Ozone performing with guest conductor Michiyoshi Inoue. The program includes Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges Suite, Shostakovitch’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 35 and Symphony No. 12 in D Minor, Op. 112.
■ Sunday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$350 to NT$ 1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Sound of Formosa — Pan Hwang-long (NTSO聽見臺灣的聲音 — 潘皇龍管弦樂展) showcases the work of Taiwanese composer Pan Hwang-long, including the world premiere of a new work titled Transition of the Five Elements lllA (五行生剋IIIA).
■ Tuesday at 7:30pm (Greater Taichung) and Wednesday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
■ Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Jingwu Rd, Greater Taichung (台中市精武路291之3號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 for both venues, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. No shows are scheduled tonight as of press time. Tomorrow the venue hosts Maki Nomiya, best known as the former singer of Japanese dance-pop group Pizzicato Five. Also appearing are Japanese mod-rock group The Collectors and Taiwan’s own zany indie-rock troupe Wonfu (旺福) [see story on Page 14]. On Wednesday, it’s the brooding indie-pop group Miss Silk Stocking (絲襪小姐) and Brit-pop and grunge group The Capelin (柳葉魚).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ All shows start at 8pm, except Wednesday concerts, which start at 8:30pm
■ NT$1,200 tomorrow (NT$1,000 in advance) and NT$500 on Wednesday (NT$400). Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists, hosts Echo (回聲樂團) tonight as the college indie rock favorites promote their a newly released EP. Tomorrow, veteran alt-rockers The Chairman (董事長樂團) takes to the stage and on Sunday Japanese visual kei duo LM.C returns to Taipei for another performance.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Thursday
■ NT$500 (NT$400) tonight and tomorrow, and NT$1,500 on Sunday. Tickets for all shows can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
As of press time, no shows have been announced for this weekend at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games, open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300
Tonight Riverside Music Cafe (河岸留言) hosts jazz group Jazzy Bounce. Tomorrow the venue hosts Okinawan folk-rock singer Isamu Shimoji (下地勇), with opening sets by Umikaji Band (海風樂團) and acoustic guitar duo Woody Woody. On Sunday, it’s post-rock band Cicada and indie rockers Microcosmos (小宇宙樂團). On Monday, the venue hosts its weekly open jam.
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts tonight at 9:30pm, 9pm on all other nights. For a list of standard songs and ground rules for the open jam, visit the venue’s Web site
■ NT$400 tonight, NT$450 tomorrow and NT$350 Sunday and NT$150 Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
South Korean boy band 2AM performs tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). The New Formosa Band, a pioneering Taiwanese pop and rock ensemble from the 1990s that includes Bobby Chen (陳昇) as one of its members, has reformed and will introduce new material at a special concert tomorrow. On Wednesday, the venue hosts the National Taiwan University Jazz Big Band (台大騷動爵士大樂團).
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Show starts at 8:30pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
■ Entrance fee for tonight’s show not available as of press time. Admission is NT$600 tomorrow and NT$400 on Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Garage rockers The Clearance Puppy (特價小狗) and metal band Draw My Last Breath (畫下最後之息) play tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club in Taipei. Post-punk indie rockers Macbeth (馬克白) open up for noise rock band She Bang-a (死蚊子) tomorrow. On Wednesday, it’s The Hoyo and Para-box.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Shows run from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Entrance for music shows is NT$300 on Fridays and Saturdays, which includes one drink. Entrance for Wednesday shows is NT$100
Flaneur Daguerre, a quartet that plays everything from free jazz and Balkan folk to classical and rock, performs tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts live jazz and blues performances. Tomorrow it’s Acid Jazz Night performing, and on Tuesday singer/songwriter A-len Yue (余佳倫) takes to the stage. MaJam Jazz Quartet (麻將爵士樂團) plays jazz, fusion, funk and blues on Wednesday while jazz quartet Jipa (奇啪樂團) appear on Thursday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10pm. The venue is closed on Sundays and Mondays
■ Entrance is NT$200 tonight and tomorrow, free on other nights
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights for the week ahead include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesday, and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday. Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs on Thursdays.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: visit www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
Taipei Swing holds dance socials on Friday nights at Italian restaurant Capone’s, with live music from electric blues band Taipei blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). Dancers of all levels welcome. Tomorrow, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. On Thursday, Japanese blues guitarist Shun Kikuta, a former guitarist for blues legend Koko Taylor, performs with his trio.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11:30pm on Fridays, 8pm to 11:30pm on Saturdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight happy-go-lucky indie band Relax One (輕鬆玩) takes to the stage. Indie-folk duo katncandix2 (棉花糖) perform tomorrow night.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow
The Mercury (水星酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung, hosts expat garage rock group Deadly Vibes and blues rock duo MudBros tomorrow night.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市左營區立文路46號), tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$250, which includes one drink
The Village Cafe (村落餐廳), a bar and cafe located at the Taipei Artist Village (台北國際藝術村), hosts live music every Saturday night. This week features new wave rockers Northern Comfort (北方安逸), Under the Moon and emo band Pipeloyd (管洛依德).
■ 7 Beiping E Rd, Taipei City (台北市北平東路7號), tel: (02) 3393-7377 X207
■ Tomorrow at 9pm
■ Entrance is NT$300, includes one drink
Tomorrow one-man band Red Rob plays live acoustic rock music at The 3 Baboons Sports Bar & Grill, an expat hangout at the Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心) in Taoyuan.
■ Taimall Shopping Center (台茂購物中心), 112, Nankan Rd Sec 1, Lujhu Township, Taoyuan County (桃園縣蘆竹鄉南崁路一段112號), tel: (03) 212-2150. On the Net: www.3baboons.com
■ Starts at 8pm
■ Entrance is free
Tranquility Bass Productions and Spunite present Rumble, an evening of drum ’n’ bass at Pipe tonight. DJs include Ting (New Zealand), Lazydaze (Australia) and Lai (Taiwan), who will be joined on the lineup by female DJ duo Bounce Girlz.
■ 1 Siyuan St, Taipei City (台北市思源街1號) On the Net: www.pipemusic.com.tw
■ Tomorrow from 10pm to 6am
■ Admission is NT$350, includes one drink
Event
Li Yanming, founder of the Zijiu Method School in Atlanta, USA, is visiting Taiwan to deliver a series of lectures in Tainan and Taipei titled “How to turn a difficult situation around.”
■ 2pm tomorrow at the National Tainan Living Art Center (國立台南生活美學館) International Convention Center, 34, Jhonghua W Rd Sec 2, Jhongsi Dist, Greater Tainan (台南市中西區中華西路2段34號), 2pm Sunday at the National Taiwan University Convention Center, International Conference Hall (台大會議中心 — 國際會議廳), B1, 85, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City, inside the NTU Second Student Activity Center (台北市羅斯福路四段85號B1,第二活動中心內)
■ Admission is free
May 11 to May 18 The original Taichung Railway Station was long thought to have been completely razed. Opening on May 15, 1905, the one-story wooden structure soon outgrew its purpose and was replaced in 1917 by a grandiose, Western-style station. During construction on the third-generation station in 2017, workers discovered the service pit for the original station’s locomotive depot. A year later, a small wooden building on site was determined by historians to be the first stationmaster’s office, built around 1908. With these findings, the Taichung Railway Station Cultural Park now boasts that it has
The latest Formosa poll released at the end of last month shows confidence in President William Lai (賴清德) plunged 8.1 percent, while satisfaction with the Lai administration fared worse with a drop of 8.5 percent. Those lacking confidence in Lai jumped by 6 percent and dissatisfaction in his administration spiked up 6.7 percent. Confidence in Lai is still strong at 48.6 percent, compared to 43 percent lacking confidence — but this is his worst result overall since he took office. For the first time, dissatisfaction with his administration surpassed satisfaction, 47.3 to 47.1 percent. Though statistically a tie, for most
Six weeks before I embarked on a research mission in Kyoto, I was sitting alone at a bar counter in Melbourne. Next to me, a woman was bragging loudly to a friend: She, too, was heading to Kyoto, I quickly discerned. Except her trip was in four months. And she’d just pulled an all-nighter booking restaurant reservations. As I snooped on the conversation, I broke out in a sweat, panicking because I’d yet to secure a single table. Then I remembered: Eating well in Japan is absolutely not something to lose sleep over. It’s true that the best-known institutions book up faster
The excellent historical novel by Chen Yao-Cheng (陳耀昌) is a gripping tale of Taiwan in the 17th century, called Formosa at the time, told from the perspective of characters representing the three major ethnic groups (the “tribes” mentioned in the title): the indigenous community, the Dutch and the Chinese. Another element that makes this book stand out is the female perspective, as two of the main protagonists are Maria, the daughter of the Dutch missionary Hambroeck, and Uma, an Aboriginal woman with a strong character. The main Chinese character is Chen Ze, a man in charge of a merchant ship
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